news details |
|
|
| From Maleogaon to Kashmir | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 20: Right in the middle of elections, investigations in Malegaon blasts and subsequent arrests of a Sadhvi, a Seer and a Soldier are influencing the political temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir.
Latest to fall in the murky ring is National Conference President Omar Abdullah whose photo with Malegaon blasts mastermind Dayanand Pandey (the self style Seer) was today circulated to Srinagar press by Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra. The charge has been vehemently denied by Omar who instead threatened to sue PDP for defamation but nevertheless it has made quite an interesting poll-time debate in Kashmir.
Earlier on Sunday last, the PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed wanted a probe into alleged links of Pandey with the former Governor SK Sinha. Symbolic of their bitter relations as Chief Minister and Governor, Mufti said, "Malegaon mastermind Pande was a 'State Guest' of Gen Sinha at Raj Bhawan in 2002 and their link should be probed. The very next day Sinha categorically denied even having ever met Pandey and he threatened to sue Mufti.
In Srinagar today, Karra asked the National Conference President Omar to come clean on a photo showing him with Malegaon accused Dayanand Pandey, while Abdullah said being seen in the same function with somebody accused of criminal activity does not tantamount to guilt.
"What was he (Omar) doing in Haridwar with a person who is accused of terrorism?" PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra said displaying a photograph of the National Conference leader with Pandey.
Karra claimed the photograph was taken in Haridwar. "Had he gone there to seek his blessings or there was something fishy about it?"
"The photograph is evidence that there is something that needs to be probed thoroughly," he added.
Commenting on the photograph displayed by Karra at a press conference, Omar told a press conference that the photograph was taken at Durga Nag temple trust here in 2002-03.
"My father (Farooq Abdullah) who had helped in setting up of a dormitory in the trust was invited for the function. Since he was not going to be in the city on that day, he asked me to attend the function on his behalf. I don't think being seen in the same function with somebody accused of criminal activity tantamount to guilt," he said.
Omar said he was ready to face probe by any agency, including CBI and joint parliamentary committee, as he was confident that he was not guilty.
"If I am found guilty, I will quit politics the same day. I will never appear before the people of Jammu and Kashmir again," he added.
Omar said "the whole matter should be handed over to CBI for a transparent probe. I am confident that I have not done anything wrong".. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
